There's been chatter for weeks about the potential chaos the NBA Draft could create. With big names available on the trade market and teams relentlessly looking to improve on the margins -- some into playoff positioning and others into championship contention -- the expectation has long been that the likelihood of a dull draft week is relatively low.
Now you can consider those chances nonexistent. To kick off the week, the Grizzlies and Pelicans on Monday reportedly agreed to a massive trade that will send the Nos. 10 and 40 picks in this year's draft, a first-rounder in 2022, Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe to Memphis. New Orleans in the deal acquires the Nos. 17 and 51 picks and Jonas Valanciunas.
Other blockbuster deals could be in the works, too, with the Warriors core reportedly pushing for a win-now piece, 76ers star Ben Simmons on the block and Damian Lillard smoke continuing to circulate (though to this point there remains no formal trade request).
This mayhem mock draft accounts for some of those potential scenarios playing out in the days leading up to the draft, throwing the order of the draft and the position many teams are currently picking into total disarray. Detroit remains at No. 1 and Houston stands pat at No. 2 in this mock. But then things take a turn at No. 3, where the Cleveland Cavaliers deal out of the slot and the asset-rich Oklahoma City Thunder make their move.
Let's dive in.
NBA Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
The expectation on Thursday night is that Detroit will stay put at No. 1 and select Oklahoma State product Cade Cunningham. The Pistons have worked out several of the other top players in this draft but Cunningham is both a good roster fit and considered close to the consensus No. 1 prospect in this draft.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 2
 
Jalen Green
SG
USA
• Soph
• 6'4"
/ 186 lbs
There will be three reasonable paths Houston could take here -- Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs or Jalen Green -- but Green is the fast-rising player who could land with the Rockets in this slot. Most gifted scoring prospect in this draft and there's room to grow here for him as well as he develops his defensive profile and adds to his already-elite bag of tricks on offense.
| |||||||
Mock Trade from
Cleveland Cavaliers
Round 1- Pick 3
There's been rumblings for awhile that OKC has taken a liking to Scottie Barnes so with this mock trade, I've got the Thunder moving up from No. 6 to No. 3 to get their guy. Barnes is a special defensive prospect who can guard every position and also has the playmaking chops at 6-9 to be a Draymond Green-like weapon on offense.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 4
Toronto could go either Jalen Suggs or Evan Mobley if the board breaks this way for them but I like the idea of the Raptors going after 7-footer Evan Mobley. Has the potential to be a generational big and fits a glaring need on the roster, too.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 5
Orlando's got some exciting young backcourt talent with Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony but neither of the two are the same caliber prospect of Suggs. He's a potential All-Star lead guard whose defensive prowess, passing vision and general all-around two-way game make him one of the best prospects to build around in this draft.
| |||||||
Mock Trade from
Oklahoma City Thunder
Round 1 - Pick 6
No lottery pick's stock has risen more in recent weeks than James Bouknight. He's impressing in team workouts and answering questions about his jumper to boot. A fit in Cleveland as a dynamic scorer next to Darius Garland and Collin Sexton gives the team another exciting backcourt prospect with promise.
| |||||||
Mock Trade from
Golden State Warriors
Round 1 - Pick 7
 
Jonathan Kuminga
SF
Congo
• Soph
• 6'7"
/ 225 lbs
The Wizards trade Bradley Beal to the Warriors in this mock trade for picks 7 and 14 (among other assets). The pick nets Washington an enigmatic, yet exciting, talent in Jonathan Kuminga, whose ceiling is as high as any prospect in this draft but whose floor is unknown. Kuminga has a ton of tools worth betting on, though, from his ideal frame, playmaking potential and athletic profile. Someone the Wizards should be thrilled to try and recalibrate long-term around.
| |||||||
From
Chicago Bulls
Round 1 - Pick 8
With Jalen Suggs slipping to No. 5, Orlando scoops 3-and-D talent Moses Moody here to give this young roster another weapon. Moody's a long wing who can knock down outside shots and defend at a high level and he's got enough playmaking upside that, if it continues, he could be one of the steals of the lottery in this draft.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 9
Sacramento has for weeks been linked to Michigan forward Franz Wagner and, for weeks, he has been a mainstay here in my mock. So I'll continue to keep him here. Still only 19 years old after spending two seasons in college yet has the frame, shooting and defense to be an early NBA contributor.
| |||||||
From
New Orleans Pelicans
Round 1 - Pick 10
The Grizzlies acquired this pick via New Orleans as part of the draft week trade that also netted the team Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, pick No. 40 and a 2022 first-rounder. In Kispert they get a top-shelf shooter who can mesh perfectly with their current core. Kispert rated in the 95th percentile as a spot-up shooter last season, according to Synergy data, making him an ideal floor-spacing fit next to Ja Morant.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 11
 
Alperen Sengun
C
Turkey
• Soph
• 6'11"
/ 243 lbs
Sengun won Turkish League MVP last season as an 18-year-old while averaging 19.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. His production at his age in a very good professional league has earned him plenty of fans. And while his game is more of a throwback to the old school style, it's reasonable to bet on the production at his age -- plus he fits a dire roster need for the Hornets.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 12
 
Josh Giddey
SF
Australia
• Soph
• 6'8"
/ 216 lbs
The Spurs look plenty deep at the wing position but in Josh Giddey, they get a jumbo playmaker whose vision and creativity stand above all other players in this draft and also help diversify the team's position with a unique skill set.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 13
While Johnson struggled in his 13-game stint at Duke before quitting the team, he's still a borderline lottery talent because of his frame and ability to play-make and pass at his position. No doubt some flaws in his game but the former five-star has a nice pedigree worth gambling on and he adds unique ability on offense that could make him a value regardless of how the other parts of his game develop.
| |||||||
Mock Trade from
Golden State Warriors
Round 1 - Pick 14
This pick was acquired by the Wizards via Golden State in our mock trade that shipped Bradley Beal to the Warriors. With it, they add a defensive dynamo in Davion Mitchell, whose college coach dubbed him "Off Night" because of his ability to force opposing players to have off nights. He's an older prospect but by all accounts a basketball junkie obsessed with the craft and someone who fits the profile of what this front office has favored in the draft in recent years.
| |||||||
From
Boston Celtics
Round 1 - Pick 15
Usman Garuba
PF
Spain
• Soph
• 6'8"
/ 229 lbs
Back-to-back for Washington in this mock draft. They add a potential plug-and-play big man in Usman Garuba, a slightly undersized yet nonetheless thrilling defensive prospect whose versatility on that end should give the team flexibility in the frontcourt.
| |||||||
Mock Trade from
Oklahoma City Thunder
Round 1 - Pick 16
This pick goes to Cleveland via OKC as part of the mock trade in which the Thunder moved up from No. 6 to No. 3. With it, the Cavs take a big swing with Kai Jones, an athletic marvel who can stretch the floor as a shooter and moves more like a guard or wing than a true big. He picked up hoops as a teenager and he's still learning the game, suggesting there's a lot of developmental runway with him.
| |||||||
From
Memphis Grizzlies
Round 1 - Pick 17
The Pelicans traded down seven spots from 10 to 17 as part of Monday's trade with the Grizzlies, and while the trade -- which freed up cap space -- could be pre-free agency signaling the team may go after a big-name point guard or even angling to re-sign Lonzo Ball, Miles McBride in this spot presents excellent value. He's a speedy, long guard who excels on the ball defensively and can get downhill on offense to create shots for himself and others.
| |||||||
From
Miami Heat
Round 1 - Pick 18
A scout recently told CBS Sports' Colin Ward-Henninger that on his own personal projections he ranks Jaden Springer ahead of Jalen Suggs in this draft. That praise might be pouring it on a tad thick, but it shows there really are believers in what Springer can do. He's a bulldog defender who has a real edge and swagger to his game that shows up on both ends. I like what I saw from him at Tennessee and as a shot-maker and combo guard there's a strong role for him to play in the NBA.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 19
While Davion Mitchell got the NCAA Tournament draft bump, Jared Butler was quietly the Final Four MOP and the offensive weapon that helped lead Baylor's top-rated offense. He's a decisive passer who operates well in tight spaces with his sharp handle and is a career 38.4% 3-point shooter. Skill-wise, a great match for a Knicks franchise in need of depth at the guard spot.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 20
As a freshman for LSU last season Cameron Thomas led the SEC in scoring. He was a scorer at the prep level, a scorer at the college level, and he'll be a scorer in the NBA. It's his NBA skill. The Hawks clearly value that type of talent, too, having traded for Lou Williams earlier this year.
| |||||||
From
Dallas Mavericks
Round 1 - Pick 21
Physically there's a lot to like about Isaiah Jackson: He has a 7-3 wingspan and can jump over the moon. And while he's still fairly limited offensively, his production around the rim on both ends of the court could be a value add for a Knicks team potentially willing to invest as Mitchell Robinson insurance if they don't want to extend him long-term.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 22
Chris Duarte is the oldest prospect in the draft but he is also one of the most NBA-ready prospects, too. Great size, great shooter, great defender -- and a great match on a Lakers team that could put him to work right away as they try and extend their championship window.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 23
While Joshua Primo didn't serve in a feature role for SEC-winning Alabama last season, what he did in a secondary role scoring the ball, rebounding it and showing off range was impressive. And now that he's opted to stay in the draft teams are thrilled about his future potential, given he's the youngest player in this year's draft. If his on-ball abilities shown in spurts at Bama and at the combine turn into something real he'll be a late-first steal.
| |||||||
From
Milwaukee Bucks
Round 1 - Pick 24
This feels like the floor for Keon Johnson, who could also wind up as a late-lottery pick. He's a pogo-stick leaper who broke the combine vertical record and there's immense upside here, but he lacks polish overall and may need some time to realize his NBA potential. Nice fit here with Houston who can afford to be patient.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 25
"Bones" Hyland dominated at the combine, knocking down shots, getting to the cup and providing instant offense. A team looking to add a microwave scorer would do well to look his way in the mid-to-late first round -- and the Clippers might be an ideal landing spot to add more shot-making on an already-loaded roster.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 26
Ayo Dosunmu came back to college as a junior to improve as a shooter and try to lead Illinois to a title. He failed at the latter but achieved the former, hitting 38.6% from 3-point range (after it was 29.6% the year prior) while improving as a passer and rebounder. Glue-guy potential here with him as he does a lot of things really well but nothing at an elite level. Someone who should stick and find success.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 27
Trey Murphy has been a reliable shooter everywhere he's been and there's an obvious role for him in a place like Brooklyn, where his job may only to be defending his position and knocking down open 3-pointers.
| |||||||
Mock Trade from
Philadelphia 76ers
Round 1 - Pick 28
Philly needs to find an answer at its backup center spot. I can think of no better way to complement the NBA's most dominant interior force in Joel Embiid than with one of college's most physically imposing bigs in Charles Bassey. Coming off a knee injury, Bassey destroyed Conference USA last season and he has made significant strides as a rebounder and shot-blocker. He might struggle defending in space but there's immense value for a big who can do what he does.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 29
His freshman season at Stanford was no doubt a disappointment, but Ziaire Williams' upside in this spot outweighs the bust potential. He's a big wing who can create his own shot and develop into a high-level scoring prospect.
| |||||||
Round 1 - Pick 30
Tre Mann has a diverse offensive skill set and limitless range as a scorer, showing an ability to make shots spotting up and off the bounce. He's also got some legitimate playmaking ability, too, potentially enough to grow into a second-unit star or a combo guard who can add versatility to the roster.
|
